On Feb. 22, 2022, I joined a video call with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was then facing a terrifying build-up of Russian troops along his country’s borders. Calm and composed, he talked at length about his strategy for Ukraine’s economic transformation and shared his plans to bring foreign investment into the Donbass region, the Eastern part of Ukraine that had seen so much unrest and conflict. The President understood that the prospect of economic growth and prosperity was key to creating peace and stability in the region. I agreed and offered to take his message to other Western business leaders, who, I was sure, would be very sympathetic to the idea. Less than 48 hours later, Russian troops began their full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Supported by relentless missile attacks and air raids on Ukraine’s military and civilian infrastructure, they launched a war of aggression that all but shattered President Zelensky’s vision of peaceful economic development. One year on, the toll of Putin’s self-serving assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty has been staggering. Some estimates put the combined number of battlefield casualties on both sides at over 200,000. Caught between the frontlines or targeted by indiscriminate Russian shelling, thousands of Ukrainian […]

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With experienced leaders and dynamic solutions in place, UST builds on positive 2022 results and will expand operations in the rapidly transforming market ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Feb. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — UST , a leading digital transformation solutions company, is proud to announce its continued growth and success in the banking and financial services industry. Today, UST is a trusted partner in the sector, supporting operations for two of the top three U.S.-based asset and wealth management companies. UST has seen significant traction in its client base and revenue in the past year due to its innovation and personalized approach to financial services. UST’s unique blend of technology and industry expertise has allowed it to provide clients with comprehensive solutions tailored to meet their customers’ specific needs. Furthermore, UST is expanding its global impact in the dynamic banking and finance sector, leveraging two decades of deep domain experience to provide technology solutions to some of the most prominent companies in the industry. In recent months, UST has expanded its transformation offerings with several initiatives including: The launch of UST FinX , UST’s Financial Services Platform and Fintech Partner Ecosystem which helps financial institutions rapidly transform, deploy products and optimize […]

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From left, Tyler Baker, Kasey Roth, Tim Bograkos and Monica Terry. Courtesy Maner Costersian Several employees were promoted to senior positions at a local public accounting and business consulting firm. Maner Costerisan, a Lansing-based firm with an office in Cascade Township, recently said it promoted Tim Bograkos to director of business development and Tyler Baker, Jon Ringlein, Kasey Roth, Wes Salisbury, Monica Terry and Bethany Verble to senior manager positions across multiple departments. This news follows Maner Costerisan’s promotion of two accountants to the principal role at the firm at the beginning of this year. Since October 2022, the firm has increased its team size by 40 members and also announced a merger with accounting firm Hall & Romkema, which took effect at the beginning of this year. “We are thrilled to continue to grow our talented Maner team,” said Trey Williams, president of Maner Costerisan. “Our recent merger with Hall & Romkema, combined with the addition of more than two dozen new team members since last fall, strengthens our ability to continue to serve and support our clients. We recently promoted some very passionate and talented team members to senior roles, which highlights our firm’s commitment to growth […]

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At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here’s an explanation for . A business loan for bad credit can provide small business owners with much-needed financing. These loans can help purchase equipment, fund day-to-day operations or even expand your business. The right bad credit business loan can also help you build credit and improve your credit score. Getting a business loan when you have bad credit can be a challenge. These loans have higher interest rates, and you may have to jump through more hoops to get one compared to business loans for people with good or excellent credit. To find the most affordable option, you’ll need to shop around and compare lenders. You’ll also need to make sure you select the right type of business loan. Read on to learn more about the types of bad credit business loans you may be eligible for and how each option works. Term loans Term loans provide a lump sum of cash that is repaid at fixed intervals with interest. These loans are offered by banks, credit unions and alternative online […]

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COMMENTARY BY But Biden does not simply want a higher debt limit. He wants the limit to be “suspended” and unaccompanied by additional reforms. Key Takeaways President Joe Biden has called for an increase in the debt ceiling. The debt limit gives Congress the opportunity to strengthen the economy and to ensure that it remains resilient. Congress should strengthen the economy by pairing an immediate increase in the debt limit and pairing it with reforms that will reduce the projected deficit. President Joe Biden has called for an increase in the debt ceiling. To avoid another fight with Congress on the issue ahead of the 2024 elections, he would need lawmakers to boost the current ceiling by roughly $2.5 trillion. This would allow for total debt of about $34 trillion, or 130% of the economy. But Biden does not simply want a higher debt limit. He wants the limit to be “suspended” and unaccompanied by additional reforms. Congress should reject Biden’s bid and instead use the debt limit to strengthen the economy. The debt limit was last suspended by Congress from August 2019 until July 2021. Over those 23 months, total federal debt increased by approximately $6.4 trillion, or […]

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At a Glance The Vietnam government has introduced a new mandatory online application process for certain Multiple Entry Business Visa (MEBV) applicants. Sponsoring companies must obtain a token (e-signature) from a local Vietnamese telecommunications company to log in to the new Ministry of Public Security (MPS) portal and create an account to apply for MEBVs. Eligible applicants now have access to a streamlined process that no longer requires a local company representative to visit the immigration bureau for the visa submission process. Sponsoring companies who do not submit MEBV applications through the new MPS portal may have their applications rejected. The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) of Vietnam (which oversees the Immigration bureau) has introduced a new online portal , which sponsoring companies should register with to apply for Multiple Entry Business Visas (MEBV) for their foreign national employees. We worked closely with Resident Vietnam in Vietnam to prepare this alert. This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to APCCInitiations@fragomen.com . Explore more at Fragomen Fragomen Shortlisted in “Partnership with an International Charity” Category at 2023 Better Society […]

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There are about 57 million small businesses and self-employed taxpayers in the United States, including: Corporations and partnerships with assets less than $10 million Sole proprietors Independent contractors Members of a partnership that carries on a trade or business Others in business for themselves, even if the business is part-time Gig workers ( i. e ., Uber/Lyft drivers, owners of Airbnb rentals, delivery services, etc.) The Taxpayer Advocate Service is sharing the following information with small business taxpayers to: Help you meet their filing requirements Share resources for information and tax return preparation Help you file accurate returns Small Business Filing Requirements Generally, the federal tax forms you will need to file vary depending on the type of business: Business Entity Type of Tax Tax Forms Sole Proprietor Income Tax Form 1040/1040SR Schedule C or F Self-Employment Tax Form 1040/1040SR Schedule SE Estimated Tax Form 1040-ES Employment Taxes Forms 940 and 941, 944 or 943 Partnership Annual return of Income Form 1065 Employment Taxes Forms 940 and 941, 944 or 943 Partner in Partnership (Individual) Income Tax Form 1040/1040SR Schedule E Employment Taxes Form 1040/1040SR Schedule SE Estimated Tax Form 1040-ES Corporation (C or S) Income Tax – C […]

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Square-parent Block ( SQ ) reported fourth-quarter earnings that missed estimates while revenue and gross profit edged by Wall Street targets. SQ stock rose as its 2023 outlook for a key financial metric met views. Square earnings for the quarter ending Dec. 31 were 22 cents per share on an adjusted basis, down 21% from the year-earlier period. Analysts had projected earnings of 30 cents a share. Also, Square said net revenue rose 14% to $4.65 billion, including Cash App transactions for digital cryptocurrency Bitcoin. SQ stock analysts had predicted revenue of $4.62 billion. Financial analysts also view gross profit as a key metric for SQ stock. Gross profit came in at $1.66 billion, up 40%, vs. estimates of $1.63 billion. Gross payment volume from merchant customers rose 14% to $48.6 billion, missing estimates of $55.35 billion. SQ Stock: Cash App Beats Views But Jefferies analyst Trevor Williams said Cash App beat expectations. "Top-line upside in Cash App on 45% year-over-year revenue growth, excluding Afterpay, offset a GPV-driven miss," he said in a note to clients. The Square Cash App helps individuals manage money and buy stocks and cryptocurrency. Shares in Block initially fell in extended trading then rose […]

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getty MENA’s (Middle East North Africa) tech story started later than Silicon Valley, China, India and Brazil, but as founder of a first-of-its-kind managed marketplace based in the region, I believe that it will take the region far less time to reach maturity. One of the main reasons for this is that it has reached a tipping point in its growth trajectory , thanks to a mix of organic developments and strategic planning. What’s Driving MENA’s Growth The MENA region has a lot of potential and is at a sweet junction of development in many respects. The demographics are young, there is an increased digital adoption, and income levels are moderate in some regions and very high in countries like UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, etc. Further, there is a lot of public expenditure to make the region even more strong in terms of HDI. 1. Demographics: With more than 108 million people aged between 15 and 29 in the Middle East, the youth make up more than 28% of the population. With a median age in many regions lower than the global average of 28 years, MENA could benefit vastly from the demographic dividend in the following years. Defined […]

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Summary. As the world marks the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this article shares first-hand stories from a diverse group of Ukrainian business leaders. Their experiences provide a glimpse into the challenges of leading in the midst of war, and… On February 24, 2022, Russian troops invaded Ukraine. This dramatic escalation of a conflict that began 2014 sparked an ongoing war that has led to tens of thousands of deaths and the largest European refugee crisis since World War II. It’s been condemned by 141 countries as an unlawful act of aggression. As the world marks the one-year anniversary of the invasion, we wanted to understand how businesses in Ukraine have navigated the last year. To that end, we conducted in-depth interviews with a diverse group of 10 Ukrainian managers and executives, representing industries including recruiting, IT, education, venture capital, health and fitness, agriculture, and oil and gas. We asked them about their experiences leading in the midst of war, the challenges they faced, and the lessons they learned. Their stories — translated and edited for clarity — follow and shed light on several common themes. Resilience When the threat of a Russian invasion became real in […]

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